a concise guide to the Olympics and other sporting events in 2012

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As the euphoria of the Olympic Games fades away, it is now the turn of the Paralympics to take centre stage in London.

And if it’s half as good as the Olympics, we’ll be in for another real sporting treat.

You may not know too much about the Paralympics themselves, but as this is set to be the second biggest sporting event EVER in Britain, here’s a short guide of what to expect over the next couple of weeks!

Athletes will be competing across 20 different sports (21 disciplines as there is track and road cycling), and there are six broad categories in which they take part.

These are wheelchair, amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, visually impaired and Les Autres, for athletes who do not fall into any of those categories, such as dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.

Sports

Archery

Athletics

Boccia

Cycling – Road and Track

Equestrian

Football 5-a-side

Football 7-a-side

Goalball

Judo

Powerlifting

Rowing

Sailing

Shooting

Swimming

Table Tennis

Volleyball

Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair Fencing

Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair Tennis

Team GB chances?

Team GB are second in the overall table, including an incredible 493 gold medals. Bet your house on them surpassing 500 this time around.

Medals table

USA: 666 gold, 586 silver, 589 bronze.

Great Britain: 493, 470, 463.

Germany: 433, 425, 399.

Best ever?

American Trischa Zorn is the most decorated Paralympian of all time.

55 medals, of which 41 are gold says it all really.

And finally, here’s a couple of videos to get you in the mood…

The Paralympic Games will leave you fascinated, mesmerised, bamboozled and probably exhausted.

They will be very different to anything ever seen on these shores in terms of sporting events. And more than likely, they won’t be back for some time yet.

So relish the moment, and admire these outstanding athletes.

And most of all, enjoy it!

The 2012 Paralympic Games begin on Wednesday, 29 August, and end on Sunday, 9 September.

TENNIS will be taking place at Wimbledon, just weeks after the Grand Slam there.

Players sometimes tend to pull out from the tournament to focus on the US Open, but there still promises to be some of the world’s top players, and this year Roger Federer is competing, arguably the greatest player ever.

Tennis in London

There will be five events at Wimbledon, with 172 players starting off.

The USA have a strong record in Olympic Tennis, with 17 gold medals, although Britain lie second only one behind on 16.

And finally…

Look out for: Roger Federer. The world’s greatest. Make the most of him while you can.

Not to be confused with: Wimbledon Grand Slam. Same location but different event.

Useless but informative fact: the last time the Olympic tennis event was held at Wimbledon was in 1908.